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THEATREWORKS PRESENTS WEST COAST PREMIERE
OF COMIC CONFECCIÓN
“SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS”
By José Cruz González
March 10-April 4, 2010
PALO ALTO (January 27, 2010) – Cadillacs, caballeros, and some outrageous visitations combine
for one spectacular birthday party when TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theater of Silicon
Valley, presents the West Coast premiere of the zany new comedy, SUNSETS AND
MARGARITAS, by José Cruz González. This colorful comic confeccíon is the rollicking story of
the faint-hearted Gregorio as he takes on his father, the mucho macho (and slightly senile) Papa
Candelario, with some assistance from a few heavenly apparitions. Featuring Daniel Valdez and
Roxanne Carrasco, with returning TheatreWorks veteran Amy Gonzalez at the helm, SUNSETS
AND MARGARITAS plays March 10-April 4 (press opening March 13) at TheatreWorks at
Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets and information, the public may call 650-463-1960 or
visit www.theatreworks.org.
Gregorio Serrano has his hands full with his overly assimilated family. So when his father,
Candelario crashes his cherished red Cadillac through the wall of his restaurant, it’s pretty clear that
it’s time to settle papa into a senior living center. But is it just Papa Candelario, or is Gregorio’s
whole family spinning out of control? From his lesbian Republican daughter and her still unnamed
infant (Ashleigh, Amber, or Courtney are strong contenders), to his wheelchair bound, fashion
designing, Chicano activist son, to his own erratic visions of the Blessed Virgin and frequent
episodes of hyperventilation that make paper bags a must-have accessory, maybe a little bit of “loco”
runs in the family. SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS premiered at the Denver Center Theatre
Company the spring of 2009, where the Denver Post called it “pure escapism…with great comic
gusto.”
José Cruz González (playwright) has written many plays rooted in Latino culture and magical
realism. Born to migrant workers in Calexico, California, González learned at a young age how
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: BRIDGET SUMMERS, CARLA BEFERA & CO.
3600 West Bayshore Road, Suite 203 / Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone 650.327.1200 Fax 650.327.6700 Email: [email protected]
TheatreWorks presents SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS
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to tap into the vast world of his imagination. From his grandfather, who would regale the family
with stories and riddles as they worked on the farm, he learned the power of storytelling. His
plays include Invierno, The Heart’s Desire, Tomás and the Library Lady, and September Shoes. A
collection of his plays, Nine Plays by José Cruz González: Magical Realism and Mature Themes in
Theatre for Young Audiences was recently published by University of Texas Press. González is
passionate about encouraging new generations to create new works of their own. He is a professor at
Cal State Los Angeles, where in 1997 he founded The John Lion New Plays Festival. González has
written for “Paz,” the Emmy Award-nominated television series produced by Discovery Kids. He
was a recipient of a 2004 TCH/Pew National Theatre Residency Grant. In 1997 he was awarded an
NEA/TCG Theatre Residency for playwrights. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America
and TYA/USA, an Associate Artist with Cornerstone Theater Company (CA), and Playwright in
Residence with Childsplay (AZ).
Director Amy Gonzalez returns to TheatreWorks to direct SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS,
where she has previously directed Anna in the Tropics; The Last Night of Ballyhoo;
Psychopathia Sexualis; Moon Over Buffalo; Voir Dire; Broken Eggs; Our Lady of the Tortilla;
and New Business. She has also directed for San Jose Repertory Theatre, San Diego Repertory
Theatre, New Mexico Repertory Theatre, El Teatro Campesino, Teatro Visión, and Eureka
Theatre. Gonzalez served as literary manager and resident director for the Eureka Theatre
Company and as associate artistic director for El Teatro Campesino; she has been active in new
play development at South Coast Repertory Theatre, Midwest PlayLabs, New Dramatists, and
San Jose Repertory Theatre’s New America Playwrights Festival. She received an NEA/TCG
Director Fellowship and holds an MFA in Directing from University of Washington in Seattle.
TheatreWorks has assembled an extraordinary cast for SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS,
featuring Daniel Valdez as Papa Candelario Serrano in his TheatreWorks debut. Valdez began his
remarkable career as an actor, composer, and performer with activist Cesar Chavez and the United
Farmworkers Union. On picket lines and at rallies in support of Chavez, he honed his theatrical
skills through “teatro,” a genre of street theater. As one of the founding members of El Teatro
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: BRIDGET SUMMERS, CARLA BEFERA & CO.
3600 West Bayshore Road, Suite 203 / Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone 650.327.1200 Fax 650.327.6700 Email: [email protected]
TheatreWorks presents SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS
3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3
Campesino, he appeared in both the Broadway hit (1979), and later Chicano film classic (1981), Zoot
Suit, for which he also wrote original music. In 1987, Valdez and his brother Luis wrote and
produced the life story of Ritchie Valens, La Bamba, in which he also appeared. His first solo
album, Mestizo (1973) was the first Chicano album to be issued by a major record label, A&M
Records. In 1996 Valdez composed the score for the IMAX film Mexico, which traces Mexico’s
history from the Mayan civilization to the present. He worked with the San Diego Repertory
Theater and Southwestern College in 1997to re-stage Zoot Suit in the first revival since its
creation 20 years before. In June of 2000, he reprised his role as musical director at the Goodman
Theater in Chicago for their production of Zoot Suit. He frequently works with communitybased organizations and schools as a positive role model for Latino youth.
Broadway and regional veteran Roxane Carrasco joins the cast as Luz in her TheatreWorks debut.
Carrasco starred as Velma in Chicago at the Shubert Theater on Broadway, as well as in the first
national tour of the show. Other national and international tour credits include Anita in West Side
Story, and roles in A Chorus Line and Fame. She was a featured dancer in the Golden Gate Theatre’s
production of The Mambo Kings, and played Chardonnay, a recurring character in the 2006 season of
As the World Turns. Regional credits include Anita in West Side Story at Northshore Music Theatre,
as well as roles at San Diego Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, and The Old Globe Theatre.
Tommy Gomez returns to TheatreWorks as Gregorio, where his previous credits include Anna in
the Tropics and Psychopathia Sexualis. Additional regional credits include productions at Purple
Rose Theatre, Michigan Shakespeare Festival, BoarsHead Theatre, The Old Globe Theatre,
American Conservatory Theater, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Shakespeare Santa
Cruz, and California Shakespeare Festival. Dena Martinez returns to TheatreWorks, where she
was recently seen in Distracted. Additional regional credits include productions at San Jose
Repertory Theatre, A Traveling Jewish Theater, Marin Theater Company, Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, Campo Santo, El Teatro Campesino, San Francisco Mime Troupe, and the Magic Theater.
Rounding out the cast in their TheatreWorks debuts are Erika Yanin Peréz-Hernández as Bianca
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: BRIDGET SUMMERS, CARLA BEFERA & CO.
3600 West Bayshore Road, Suite 203 / Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone 650.327.1200 Fax 650.327.6700 Email: [email protected]
TheatreWorks presents SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS
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(credits include Teatro Visión and Pacific Repertory Theater); Lucinda Serrano as the Apparitions
(credits include Teatro Visión, San Diego Repertory Theatre, and Pacific Repertory Theatre), and
Miles Villanueva as JoJo (credits include roles at Shakespeare Santa Cruz).
SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS is the sixth production in TheatreWorks’ 40th anniversary
season. With over 8,000 subscribers and 100,000 patrons per year, TheatreWorks has captured a
national reputation for artistic innovation and integrity, often presenting Bay Area theatregoers with
their first look at acclaimed musicals, comedies, and dramas, directed by award-winning local and
guest directors, and performed by professional actors cast from across the country.
FOR CALENDAR EDITORS:
WHAT:
Cadillacs, caballeros, and some outrageous visitations combine for one spectacular
birthday party when TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theater of Silicon
Valley, presents the West Coast premiere of the zany new comedy, SUNSETS AND
MARGARITAS, by José Cruz González. This colorful comic confeccíon is the
rollicking story of the faint-hearted Gregorio as he takes on his father, the mucho
macho (and slightly senile) Papa Candelario, with some assistance from a few
heavenly apparitions. Featuring Daniel Valdez and Roxane Carrasco with Amy
Gonzalez at the helm, SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS is an exuberant parody of
Latino culture with a heart of pure gold.
WHEN:
Previews: March 10, 11, 12
Press Opening: Saturday, March 13
Closes: Sunday, April 4
SHOWS:
Previews: 8pm
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7:30pm
Thursdays and Fridays: 8pm
Saturdays: 2pm, 8pm
Sundays: 2pm, 7pm
Pre-show “How Theatre Works” discussion with playwright José Cruz González and
Director Amy Gonzalez March 11 at 6:30pm; Post-show Discussion Wednesdays
with cast and artistic staff March 17, 24, and 31; “Visual Voice” audio-described
performances are available April 2 and 8 at 8pm, and April 3 at 8pm.
WHERE:
Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: BRIDGET SUMMERS, CARLA BEFERA & CO.
3600 West Bayshore Road, Suite 203 / Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone 650.327.1200 Fax 650.327.6700 Email: [email protected]
TheatreWorks presents SUNSETS AND MARGARITAS
5-5-5-5-5-5-5-5
TICKETS:
Previews: $27 (students) - $39, regular performances: $29 (students) - $62
Discounts available for students, seniors, educators, and members.
A $2 convenience fee will be assessed for online and telephone orders.
INFO:
For information or to order tickets call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: BRIDGET SUMMERS, CARLA BEFERA & CO.
3600 West Bayshore Road, Suite 203 / Palo Alto, CA 94303
Phone 650.327.1200 Fax 650.327.6700 Email: [email protected]